On July 18 The 19th Annual Amelia Earhart Festival is a family friendly event to celebrate Atchison’s famous aviatrix daughter. A craft fair, musical entertainment, and a block of fun and education devoted to children happen all day Saturday on Atchison’s Commercial Street Mall. Puppet shows, Mad Science and Reptiles Up Close fill the stage while traveling entertainers, petting zoo and pony rides will keep the kids happy! Activities move to the riverfront late afternoon as another stage provides music and a wide variety of food vendors. An aerobatic show will wow the audience as they settle in for the evening. The grand finale is our fireworks extravaganza, the “Concert in the Sky,” a spectacular show set to music. A 2K/8K run is an early morning option. Carnival rides are available from noon until midnight. We honor a Pioneering Achievement Award winner each year who exemplifies the spirit of Amelia Earhart. This years honoree is Sophia Danenberg, the first black woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. She will participate in a Speaker’s Symposium at 11 am in the O’Mallley McAllister Auditorium at Benedictine College. Admission is free to the public.
photo credit – Tekniska museet
